Word Origin & History

dig early 14c. (diggen), of uncertain origin, probably related to dike and ditch, either via O.Fr. diguer (ult. from a Gmc. source), or directly from an unrecorded O.E. word. Native words were deolfan, grafan (medial -f- pronounced as "v" in O.E.). Meaning "thrust or poke" (as with an elbow) is from 1819; figurative sense of this is from 1840. Slang sense of "understand" first recorded 1934 in Black English, probably based on the notion of "excavate." A slightly varied sense of "appreciate" emerged 1939. Noun meaning "archaeological expedition" is from 1896. Related: Digging.

Example Sentences for dig up

But what the alcohol would do would be to cut the leash of constraint and dig up every strong passion among them.

Dig up a warm border, and sow some French beans; let them have a dry soil, and give them no water till they appear above ground.

Its food consists mainly of small rodents and birds, such as it can dig up from the ground, or waylay by cat-like maneuvers.

Do the Indians want to dig up the tomahawk and make war on the whites?

I see then that you have gone back years to dig up old offences.

People who had not paid a bill for months managed to dig up cash for tickets.

Being enraged by this, Offandi rejoined, 'Shall I dig up the bones of my father and throw them into the sea?'

Suppose anybody around the club could dig up a screwdriver for you?

It is not desirable to dig up the hawthorn-trees, or to try to do so, even with wooden spades.